Ancient ruins, holy temples, mosques and colonial fortresses provide information about Sri Lanka’s fascinating 2,000-year history. Or explore the country’s many cultural gems. There are more than 20 motu (small islands) around the lagoon. The best areas for a low-key vacation include sweet Elbow Cay with its famous candy-striped lighthouse, the charming three-mile-long Green Turtle Cay, which feels like you’ve been transported back to the old Bahamas, and Treasure Cay on Great Abaco with its gorgeous white sandy beach washed by turquoise water.
Male is the capital, but most visitors head straight to one of the secluded atolls, where luxury resorts and bone-white beaches lined with aquamarine waters await.
Where is the best place for a beach vacation?
If you’re looking for an exotic beach vacation, Panama is a far cheaper option than other tropical destinations. The small island of Tapuaetai (One Foot Island) in its southeastern corner is a popular day trip to the Cook Islands with beautiful views of the lagoon. Tropical gardens, waterfalls, cute coastal towns, and fantastic surfing spots are other top attractions on Kauai. Bora Bora, Tahiti Rarotonga is the largest of the Cook Islands and the main tourist destination, but Aitutaki, a 45-minute flight away, is the crown jewel, and that says a lot in an archipelago of 15 gorgeous tropical islands.
Swimming, snorkeling, kayaking and fishing are popular activities on the Cook Islands, and the island offers a glimpse of relaxed village life that slowly comes to a standstill on Sundays for worship.
